Shelf bracket



Oct. 23, 1956 R. J. BELLON ET AL 2,767,950

SHELF BRACKET 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed June 2, 195,2

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SHELF BRACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1952 United States Patent()SHELF BRACKET Ralph J. Bellon, Chicago, and Irwin J. Ferdinand, Glencoe,Ill., assignors to S. A. Hirsh Manufacturing Co., Skokie, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Application .lune 2, 1952, Serial No. 291,258 7Claims. (Cl. 248-243) The present invention relates generally to displayshelving and more particularly to shelf supports and fastenings whichcan be built, changed or dismantled quickly and easily altered withrespect to height and levelness or inclination of the shelves, withoutthe necessity of any tools.

Heretofore, any change that a manager of a store might want to make inany section of his conventional shelving to enhance his merchandisingpotentials involves a major operation and a delay of waiting forskilledl labor to come in to make the change along with all of theattendant disturbances of changes being made during store hours.

The present invention obviates these difficulties and provides apleasing shelving system for stores which can quickly and easily beinstalled, altered or dismantled by persons unskilled mechanically.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved shelf supportswhich require no bolts or tools to install or change once the uprightshave been disposed in upright supported relationship.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary bracketarrangement which is easily attached, detached or altered to provide fora horizontal or inclined shelf upon a moments notice, or vice versa, bythose unskilled mechanically.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary bracket assemblywhich is foolproof against tampering yet readily operable for release byfinger manipulation.

Also, an object of the invention is to provide a shelf bracket which canbe quickly and easily attached or detached by a single hand While theother hand is holding the supported shelf or other member in place.

The invention is further characterized by a relationship of parts whichgives a snap action and a sharp clicking sound at opposite ends of itslimit of movement to indicate when it is fully released or fullysecured.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an attachmentdevice for shelving brackets which can be operated merely by rectilinealmovement of a single element, yet if loosened from any cause whatsoeverwhile bearing Weight locks itself against inadvertent detachment as longas the shelf is Weight bearing. Y

The invention is also characterized by a structural arrangement which iseasy to assemble, alter and dismantle without any dangers of thecooperating parts becoming lost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein theshelf supports can be handled by unskilled persons and snapped on theuprights and the shelving in turn snapped on to the supports duringassembly or reassembly, yet can also be snapped off in bothrelationships Without need for any tools.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shelf construction andmounting assembly which is inexpensive to manufacture, is pleasing inappearance, and is selfindicating as to how it can be manipulated withthe fingers for assembly or dismantling by those unskilled mechanically.

These being among the objects of the invention, other and furtherobjects will become apparent from the drawings, the description relatingthereto, and the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a shelving assembly including cooperatingunitary supports and upright combinations in which the supports areshown in their many and diverse interchangeable positions with respectto the level and inclination of the shelves;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the shelf support which includesa unitary bracket and strut assembly mounted in place to support a shelfin horizontal position;

Fig. 3 is a section taken through the bracket of the unitary supportupon line 3--3 of Fig. 2 which section could also be taken through thebracket as indicated by4 the line S11-3a in Fig. 2 because they aresubstantially identical;

Fig. 4 is a section taken upon line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 showing the initialstages of assembly of the respective securing elements of the unitaryshelf support embodying the invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the spring element employed as one of theelements in the unitary shelf support ernbodying the invention;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the spring shown in Fig. 6mounted in place and the securing element or pin in its retractedposition;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the position of the pinand spring in which both the bracket or the strut element of the shelfsupport are secured to the upright just prior to the time that the pinis thrust home to the position shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 5 illustrating thesafety catch features of the pin in event it becomes partially displacedwhile the shelf is weight bearing; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section taken upon line 10-10 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in further detail an upright is shown at10, having a T-shaped cross-sectional shape. A series of holes 11 areprovided in the iiange portion 12 which tapers appreciably from its baseto its free edge, as shown in Fig. 3. Openings 13 are provided in thebase or arm portions of the upright 1t) so that the upright can berigidly supported against a wall 15 as shown in Fig. l by bolts 16received through the holes 13 and tightened into expansion nuts 17embedded in the Wall 15. Thus a series of uprights are mounted atpredetermined points along a wall with the perforated ilange portions 12extending in a direction perpendicular to the Wall surface and with thelower ends of the uprights resting on the floor 18, in weight-supportingrelationship.

In those instances where it is ydesired to have shelving in the middleof a floor, like an island, two of the uprights 10 can be secured backto back and supported as hereinafter described.

The unitary shelf supports 19 received upon the upright to carry theshelves each comprise two main members, a bracket 20 and a strut 21,hinged together by a rivet 22 in the relationship shown in Fig. 2. Bothmembers are preferably sheet metal stampings shaped symmetrically intheir main portion like a letter U along a medial fold line 23 with thestock at the ends of the fold lines cut away as at 24 and 25 to leaveprojecting sides or ears 33 which slip over the flange 12 of the upright10 in overlapping relationship.

The U-shape of the bracket 20 is better shownin Fig. 10 wherein theupper portion of its sides 26 are bent towards each other slightly andthen directly away from each other along bend lines 26a to provide avertically disposed channel having a narrow throat bordered by coplanarilanges 27 upon which shelving 28 rests in weight borne relationship.The ilanges 27 extend the length of the bracket, particularly along theears to give them lateral support when mounted upon the ilange 12. Thebracket 2t) may be of any suitable length depending upon the width ofthe shelf expected to be supported thereon. However, it is desired thatall the brackets be of a uniform length of approximately fifteen inchesso that they are completely inter-changeable at all levels and withothers like them on other uprights in event such changes are desired.

At its outer end the bracket is rounded for decorative purpose as shownat 29 and preferably the end of the channel is left open although thesides may be squeezed together if desired to provide a closed andfuiished appearance to prevent foreign articles being insertcd in thechannel. If left open as planned, cardboard inserts 3i) can be receivedin the channel to provide vertically disposed signs or indicia which canbe seen the length of the aisle or shelving to identify differentsections of the store according to the dcpartmentalization of the store.Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. l in a diagrammatic way asrepresented by a card 30 roughly formed in the shape of a J with coloror indicia 31 thereon. The long leg 32 of the card is inserted into thechannel whereas the short leg, if one is provided, rests on top of theshelf. It will be appreciated, however, that the card can be a dependingcard as well as an upright card. The longer leg 32 of the card, however,is sutilcientlj,r wide that it is received in the channel under edgewisepressure which holds it in place.

Although the strut 21 could also be provided with coplanar flangessimilar to those 27 of the bracket 20 for strengthening purposes, it ispreferred to provide the strut with tlat sides somewhat triangular inshape with the wide portion thereof at the inner end where the ears 33overlap the tapering flange 12. At the narrow end of the strut theU-shaped fold portion is cut away as at 37a to receive the sides 26 ofthe bracket 20 therebetween in overlapping relationship in whichrelationship they are preferably secured permanently together by therivet 22, as already mentioned, which extends through `all four of theoverlapping walls. However, in some embodiments it will be appreciatedthat the rivet 22 can be formed as a pin with a cotter key securement(not shown) to cooperate in any one of a number of openings in the sides26 of the bracket 20 if desired without departing from the spirit of theinvention. However, for purposes of illustration herein the bracket andthe strut are shown pivoted with respect to each other at a mutuallypredetermined point.

At the wide end of the strut both ears are preferably bent along linesindicated at 36 so that the end portions 35 diverge to readily receivethe edge of the flange 12 of the upright therebetween in guidedrelationship and the sides 37 are stressed at the fold line 23 towardseach other next to the cut-away portion 24 to establish a frictionalspring pressure between the ears 33 against the sides of the flange 12when they are moved into position on the ange. The bend lines 36 are sodisposed that they extend the width of flange 12.

Where the ears 33 overlap the ilange in their intended positions, theyare punched out as indicated at 34 where they coincide with openings 11,and since the ears of both the bracket 20 and strut 21 are preferablyconstructed identically in this respect, the following description willbe general rather than limited to one of the elements.

Before the respective brackets and struts are folded to the form alreadydescribed, one of the ears 33 is punched and pressed outwardly to theshape indicated by the bell 41, which terminates in a cylindrical flange42 to dene a recess 43 and an opening 44, respectively. The other ear ismerely punched out to form an opening 46 of approximately the samediameter as the opening 44.

The openings 44 and 46 are substantially the same diameter as theopenings 11 in the flange 12 of the upright. Once these openings in theears are made the members 2t! and 21 are folded to the form alreadydescribed so that the openings 44 and 46 are brought into axialalignment. Either one of the ears can be the one provided with the bellportion 41. The relationship shown is best adapted for right handedoperation.

A pin 50 is received in the openings 44 and 46. This pin has a radialflange portion knurled on its outer surface to serre as a handle 51 forready handling by a persons lingers and also has a slightly reducedportion 52 next to the handle whose outer diameter is substantially thesame as the outer diameter of the cylindrical ilange 42 and whose lengthis enough to provide ready finger access to the handle. The remainingportion of the pin, generally referred to herein as the shank portion53, is of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the openings 44and 46, and is of the relative length shown in the drawing havingreference particularly to Fig. 3.

The length of the shank 53 is such that when the reduced portion 52 ofthe pin is brought into contact with the end of the cylindrical ange 42,the uniform diameter of the shank portion 53 extends to a point S4 whichis appreciably beyond the opening 46 where it tapers as indicated at 56to a square shoulder 57 behind a head portion 58 that is rounded on itsouter face as at 60. The axial length of the taper 56 is at least twicethat of the thickness of the ear 33 so that if pin were moved so thatthe ear was to slide down the tapered surface 56 it would be engaged asshown in Fig. 9 by a substantially overlapping relationship with theshoulder 57 to prevent the removal of the pin as more particularlydescribed hereinafter.

Also, in this connection with Fig. 9 it might be well to note that thediameter of the opening 44 and the diameter of the shank portion 53 areso related to each other that in the cocked position of pin 50 shown inFig. 9 there is a frictional binding of appreciable extent between theshank 53 and the cylindrical flange 42. Thus, not only does the shoulder57 prevent the removal of the pin as shown in Fig. 9 but frictionalengagement between the cylindrical flange 42 and the shank 53 of the pinassists in preventing the removal of the pin as long as it is weightbearing.

A C-spring 61, Fig. 6, is provided to slide frictionally along the shankof the pin 50 and when disposed on the tapered portion 56 to contractenough to engage behind the shoulder 57 against inadvertent removal.

The main portion of the C-spring 61 follows a circular path, but itsmidpoint is offset outwardly as at 62, and its ends 63 are also turnedoutwardly so that they constitute three circumferentially spaced pointswhich extend far enough in a radial direction to engage the body of theflange 12 around the opening 11 when the spring is permitted to contractto its normal size behind the shoulder 57. Furthermore, once the spring61 is installed on the pin 50 the portions 62 and 63 operate to hold thespring square with the pin whenever the spring engages the face of theflange 12 or ear 33 around a hole 11, 44, or 46 therein through whichthe pin is either pushed or pulled. Thus the spring never becomes cockedin its operation. In fact, the circular portion of the pin alsocooperates with the shoulder 57 when the spring is thereagainst also tokeep the spring square so that the spring cannot foul up a hole throughwhich the pin is about to be pushed.

The description of the manner of assembly and installation of the pin 50and spring 61 upon either the bracket 20 or the strut 21 will be offurther assistance in understanding the operation of the spring and pin.Reference is made to Fig. 5, where the spring is located at the opening46 as held in place by the rounded end portion 60 of the head 58 of thepin. In this position pressure upon the handle 51 will cause the roundedend to spread the sides of the C-spring outwardly to slip over the headportion 58 of the pin after which the spring will contract and snap intoplace behind the shoulder 57.

Once the C-spring is in position against the shoulder 57 the pin isassembled against removal from either the bracket or the strut and isready for operation. Another way, of course, of assembling the C-springupon the end is shown by locating the C-spring in the dotted lineposition 61a where it is at rest in the recess 43 just inside of thecylindrical flange 42. In this position the C-Spring can be held againstoutward movement by any suitable tool having an opening thereincorresponding with the opening 46 in size, and pressure upon the flangedend 52 of the pin 50 will also cause the C-spring to snap into placebehind the shoulder 57.

Referring now to Fig. 7, once the C-spring 61 is located behind theshoulder 57 the pin is drawn to its fully retracted position as shown inFig. 7, in which position the spring 61 and also the head portion 58 ofthe pin are accommodated deeply enough in the recess 43 to be outsidethe inner face 64 of the ear having the recess formed therein. In thisposition the space between the ears 33 is open to receive the flange 12of the upright therein and the bracket or the strut can be moved aroundsuiiciently that one of the openings 11 in the ilange 12 can bemaneuvered into substantial coincidence with the opening 46 in thebracket. During this maneuvering the head portion 58 can be ofassistance when manually urged inwardly and jostled enough for the headportion 58 to slip into the opening 11. For this purpose, it will beseen the pin is completely free of any restraint from the C-spring andalignment can be attained almost instantly without need for oversizedopenings.

Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 8, further movement of the pin 50 willforce expansion of the C-spring and cause it to slide up the taper 56 tothe shank portion 53 of the pin 50. This is accomplished by the C-springbeing initially in a position which might permit it to slip through theopening except for the offset portions 62 and 63 on it. These offsetportions engage the side of the flange 12 around the hole 11 andpreserve this relationship so that the taper 56 can be forced throughthe C-spring and expand it.

Once the C-spring reaches the end of the taper the spring 61 is under atension which causes frictional relationship to exist between the springand the shank against relative displacement of the two elements.However, at this point, the head 58 of the pen has or is about to enterthe opening 46 and the pin 50 is ready for its final movement.

The nal movement of the pin 50 from the position shown in Fig. 8 to thatshown in Fig. 3 is accomplished under the restraint of the frictionalengagement between the C-spring and the shank of the pin, and whenfinger pressure is applied against the handle 51, the pin will snap tothe position shown in Fig. 3 with a sharp clicking action indicatingthat it has been pressed to its expected position of securernent.

Thereafter the frictional engagement between the C- spring 61 and theshank 53 of the pin 50 will hold the pin in its secured position unlessthrough inadvertence or accident the pin creeps or is moved to theposition shown in Fig. 9. In this position, however, due to the weightbeing carried by the bracket in one direction which is opposed by thesupport effort of an upright in the opposite direction there is arelative shear force concentrated against the pin at the large end ofthe taper. Thus the head 58 of the pin is displaced laterally to theposition in which the shoulder 57 overlaps the outer face of the remoteear 33 where it becomes locked in place behind the shoulder 57 and isheld there not only by the further opposition frictionally maintained bythe C-spring on a shank against relative movement but also by thecooking or binding action of the shank 53 of the pin itself in thecylindrical opening 44. In this position the pin is locked againstfurther removal as long as there are shear forces developed upon the pinby the two secured members.

However, it will be noted that the incline of the taper is favorable toanyone noticing the safety lock position of the pin and pressing uponthe llange 51 to resnap it in place without any need for removing therelative shear loads upon the pin and without touching anything exceptthe handle 51 of the pin. Mere force upon the handle 51 of the pinreturns it to its position of full securement.

In the event it is ever desired to shift the pin to another hole 11 uponthe upright 10 it will be apparent that the shape of the bell 41 and thereduced portion 52 upon the pin 50 as shown in Fig. 3 permits sufficientspace between the ear and the flange 51 that a person can get his thumband foreinger in position for a rm grip upon the flanged head.Thereafter either with the weight upon the shelf or with the weightremoved from the shelf a person unskilled mechanically can provide aslight lifting motion to the shelf to relieve the pin of shear forcesand a direct pull upon the llange 51 will cause the shank portion 53 ofthe pin to slide through the flange outwardly through the cylindricalflange 42 until the C- spring is ilat against the shoulder 57 again andthe head portion 58 is received in the recess 43 deeply enough that thebracket or strut can be moved to a new position. In the new position theprocess of attachment already described in connection with Figs. 7, 8,and 3 will be repeated to secure the bracket or strut in its newposition, all without any need to use tools and in a way readilyapparent to those unskilled mechanically,

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9 as well as 3, it is apparent that somelooseness exists between the ears of the bracket 20 and the upright 10for relative ease of assembly and movement. However, in connection withFig. 4 it will be seen that the fold line 36 also shown in Fig. 2, isdisposed in a direction somewhat longitudinal to the sides of the strutso that the strut when in place has the inner end of the fold line 36near the root of the flange and the other end of the fold line 36 nearthe edge of the flange. This relationship and the tension at the bends36 against the ilange 12 rigidies the strut and flange assembly and alsothrough the tightness of the lit at the pivotal joint between the strutand the bracket at the pivot 22 prevents the bracket from rattling onthe flange. Thus, although the unitary bracket mounts on the flange ofthe upright rather loosely this looseness is obviated as far as usersare concerned once the end of the strut is locked in place by its pin.

Not only this, but it is readily apparent that the rounded head portion60 can be thumb pressed to the position shown in Fig. 8 in preliminarypreparation for the nal full retraction of the pin. This will give apreliminary safety position just prior to the final and full retractionof the pin in those instances where it is desired to vary the positionor level of the shelf.

Having described the invention and various relationships of the parts itis readily apparent that the particular relative sizes and shapes of therespective elements described as shown lend themselves best to thecooperation and results described. Consequently, the fulfillment of theobjects stated is evident from the description made of the preferredembodiments of the invention and it is readily apparent to those skilledin the art that various and further modifications and changes can bemade Without departing from the spirit of the invention the scope ofwhich is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a shelving device the combination of a shelf support having spacedears with aligned apertures therethrough, an upright having a flangereceived between the ears with an aperture therethrough in alignmentwith the apertures on the spaced ears, a pin slidable in said aperturesand characterized by a handle on one end of a shank portion at one sideof one of said ears and a reduced portion near the other end tapering toa shoulder on the other side of said one of said ears, a C-springmounted on the pin between said ears on said other side of said one ofsaid ears and behind the shoulder, said C-spring in its normal shapehaving an inside diameter less than the diameter of the shank portionand radially directed extensions thereon providing an outside dimensiongreater than the diameter of said apertures to engage said flange andslide along the shank in frictional engagement therewith when the pin isinserted through the aperture in said flange.

2. In a shelving device, the combination of a shelf support havingspaced ears, an opening in one ear, a recess in the other ear having acylindrical flange defining a second opening in alignment with the firstopening, an upright having a ange received between the ears with anaperture therethrough in alignment with said openings on the spacedears, a pin slidable in said openings and characterized by a handle onone end of a shank portion and a reduced portion near the other endterminating in a head defining a shoulder, a spring mounted on the pinbetween said ears, said spring in its normal shape having an insidediameter less than the diameter of the shank portion and radiallydirected extensions thereon providing an outside diameter greater thanthe diameter of the aperture in said upright flange to engage saidflange and slide along the shank in frictional engagement therewith whenthe pin is inserted through the aperture on said flange, said springresting in said reduced portion behind said shoulder and in said recesswhen the pin is in fullyretracted position,

3. In combination with an upright having a weightbearing aperturedflange, a unitary shelf support including two elements secured togetherand having apertured spaced ears receiving said apertured flangetherebetween with all the apertures in alignment, one of said earshaving a recess around the aperture therein, a pin having a handleportion on one end of a shank portion disposed outside said recess andan inclined reduced portion near the other end terminating in a headdefining a shoulder received in said apertures, a Cspring mounted on thepin between said ears and behind the shoulder, said spring in its normalshape having an inside dimension less than the side of said shankportion and an outside dimension greater than the size of said flangeaperture to engage said flange and be expanded by said inclined portionto slide along the shank in frictional engagement therewith when the pinis inserted through the aperture in said iiange, said spring normallyresting in said recess when the pin is fully retracted.

4. In a shelving device the combination of a bracket and strut both ofwhich have pairs of spaced ears, one ear of each pair having a holetherethrough and the other ear of each pair having a form pressedtherein defining a recess that terminates in a cylindrical flangedisposed in alignment with the hole of the other ear, a pin for eachpair having a radial flange at one end of a shank portion and a reducedportion near the other end terminating in a head defining a shoulder,said head being peripherally rounded at the outer extremity thereof, aspring mounted on each pin between each pair of ears behind theshoulder, said spring in its normal shape having an inside dimensionless than the diameter of the shank portion and an outside dimensiongreater than the diameter of said holes to engage one of the ears andslide along the shank in frictional engagement therewith when the pin isinserted through a hole in said one of the ears, said spring and roundedhead being received in the recess when the pin is fully retracted toclear the space between the ears.

5. In combination with a tlanged upright having an aperturetherethrough, a shelf support having an ear with an aperturetherethrough and engaging said flange with the aperture in said fiangein alignment with said aperture in said ear, a pin slidably received insaid apertures and characterized by an enlarged handle at one end of ashank portion and a reduced portion near the other end terminating in ahead defining a shoulder, a spring element located beyond said earaperture in a direction opposite from said handle and received on saidpin over said head and carried on the pin behind said shoulder, saidspring encircling the pin and normally having an inside dimension lessthan the size of the head and of said shank portion and said springhaving an outside dimension greater than the size of said ange aperturewhen the shank is pushed therethrough to engage said flange and hold itsposition thereagainst when the shank of the pin is displaced throughsaid flange aperture, said spring normally resting in said reducedportion when the pin is fully retracted.

6. The combination called for in claim 5 in which the reduced portionhas a longitudinal width greater than the thickness of said flange to beengaged by said ear in locked relationship behind said shoulder whensaid reduced portion and ear coincide and said apertures are offset withrespect to each other.

7. The combination called for in claim 5 in which said spring elementincludes radially directed extensions thereon providing the outsidediameter that is greater than the diameter of said apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

